Lord Marshal Grefon cursed as he heard the twang of bows before him. There should not be any troops this far from the front and he wondered if they had inadvertently caught up with some of the retreating Fardale troops. His thoughts grew more contemplative when the charging men in front of him halted. His Cortains were ordering the men to dismount and take up their bows. Those orders would not be given if the resistance was light.
Lord Marshal Grefon whirled to seek some high ground so he could view the battlefield. That was when he saw the flanks closing in on his men.
"We are being surrounded,” the Lord Marshal shouted. “Retreat and regroup immediately. Retreat and regroup."
"We are not retreating,” hollered Lord Ridak as he waved his sword menacingly towards Lord Marshal Grefon. “We are almost there. Order your men forward, Lord Marshal. I will not be denied my victory by your incompetence again. Get them moving."
Lord Marshal Grefon fought the urge to strike out at Lord Ridak. Instead, he dutifully turned and ordered his men to mount and fight their way through the enemy. When the men hesitated, Lord Marshal Grefon took the lead himself, urging his soldiers onward. The road passed through a clump of trees up ahead and the Lord Marshal could already see the flanking attackers closing off any routes around the trees. In a blind rage, the Lord Marshal charged down the road as he saw soldiers on both sides of him dropping with arrows in their bodies.
While the battle raged around him, Lord Marshal Grefon's eyes narrowed to a solitary black figure standing in the middle of the road ahead of him, the figure's long black cape blowing in the wind. As the soldiers around him veered off the road to engage the enemy, Lord Marshal Grefon drew his sword and charged directly towards Lord Marak. Lord Marak stood in the road with his feet placed apart and discarded his bow. In one smooth motion, Lord Marak reached back and drew his wicked-looking sinuous sword and stood defiantly waiting for the charging horse to reach him. Lord Marshal Grefon urged his mount faster and laughed as he prepared to take off Lord Marak's head as he flew past.
At the last minute Lord Marak dropped to the side of the road and swung his sword. Lord Marshal Grefon struggled to comprehend what was happening as the horse slid downward and its chest impacted with the road. Lord Marshal Grefon went flying through the air and landed flat on his back. Dazed for a moment, he was startled when his sword was thrown on his chest, hilt first. He grabbed the sword and looked up. Lord Marak stood waiting for Grefon to rise.
"I believe it was me you were looking for,” smiled Lord Marak. “Well, you have found me. Let us see how fine a swordsman you are."
Lord Marshal Grefon scrambled to his feet and steadied himself. “You haven't asked me to surrender,” laughed Lord Marshal Grefon. “I guess you are not too sure of yourself, after all."
"I have a fine Lord Marshal already,” smiled Lord Marak. “I can not even think of a position for which you are fit. Fardale has no slaves."
Lord Marshal Grefon spat on the road, his face a contorted mask of hatred. “You shall wish you were a slave before I get done with you,” he screamed as he charged Lord Marak.
Lord Marak stood and waited for Lord Marshal Grefon to close. He sidestepped the mad charge and swung his sword viciously. He quickly turned as Lord Marshal Grefon screamed and saw Grefon's forearm lying in the road, still clutching its sword.
"What are you waiting for?” screamed Lord Marshal Grefon. “Finish it."
"I don't kill unarmed men,” smiled Lord Marak. “I guess you will have to live with what you have left."
Lord Marshal Grefon bent and picked up his sword with his left hand, shaking his lost forearm loose. “You shall not leave me a cripple,” screamed Lord Marshal Grefon as he crazily charged Lord Marak again.
As the Situ got closer, Lord Marak dropped to one knee and extended his sinuous sword. Either Lord Marshal Grefon did not see it, or he did not care, but he ran until he impaled himself on Lord Marak's sword. Lord Marak rose and wiped his sword on the green and yellow uniform of the Situ Lord Marshal and strode down the road in search of Lord Ridak. The fighting was practically over as Lord Marak exited the clump of trees. The road was awash with blood and bodies lay everywhere. Most of the bodies wore green and yellow and Lord Marak silently issued his thanks. Hundreds of Situ had thrown down their weapons and surrendered, hundreds more had not and were dead. Lord Ridak was one of the ones who had surrendered.
Lord Marak called for two horses and a soldier promptly brought them over to him. He indicated that Lord Ridak should mount and then proceeded to mount the other horse.
"You are coming with me, Lord Ridak,” Lord Marak declared. “If you try to run away, you will suffer greatly. If you ride peaceably, I will not harm you."
"Where are you taking me?” demanded Lord Ridak.
Lord Marak did not answer. He took hold of Lord Ridak's reins and led him towards the hills and the dense forest of their slopes. Before they got too far into the forest, they were surrounded by Chula warriors. One Chula made his way forward through the others and stood before the horses. His lion-like face and long mane identified him as a Shaman. Lord Ridak cringed at the sight of the barbarians and started to visibly shake.
"Lord Ridak,” grinned Lord Marak, “I would like to introduce you to Ukaro Zatong, the Head Shaman of the Zatong Tribe. He is someone whom you tried to find many years ago. He is the husband of Glenda. He is my father."
"Your father?” howled Lord Ridak. “But he is ... he is an animal."
"Tsk, tsk,” scolded Lord Marak. “It is not polite to talk ill of your owner that way."
"My owner?” cried Lord Ridak. “You can not do this. I demand to be taken prisoner, not turned over to these savages."
"He learns slowly, Father,” smiled Lord Marak. “You will have to be patient with him. When he learns what you have planned for him, he will probably keep you up all night pleading for death. He does babble on so. Please return the horse when you are done with it. That is something I do have a use for."
* * * *
"Thank you, Kasa, for that report,” said Lord Marak. “That pretty much finishes up the loose ends except for our new Situ estates. I have asked each of you Council members for your input on what we should do with our new properties and your suggestions were excellent. I have decided to keep two of the estates in addition to Fardale as Torak Clan estates. The other three will remain as Situ estates to preserve that seat in the Assembly of Lords."
Lord Marak looked at the sea of bobbing heads around the table of the Meeting Chamber. This session was open to anyone who wished to attend and the room was packed. “Kasa,” Lord Marak continued, “I have read your report on the progress of your assistant, Elsa, and I am pleased with her progress. I am going to appoint her as the Bursar of Lituk Valley. It is high time that more women entered the realm of finance and the two of you will make Khadora sit up and take notice."
A round of applause thundered through the room and only after it died down did Lord Marak hear the voice calling for his attention. “Lord Marak,” Cortain Rybak called out, “I ... I would like to know if you are considering any military transfers to Lituk Valley. If it is possible ... if you could see your way to..."
"I suppose you are going to ask if I will allow you to become a Cortain in the Situ Army, Cortain Rybak?” asked Lord Marak. “If that is your question, the answer is no. The Situ Army has enough candidates for the officer positions."
Cortain Rybak's eyes lowered and he nodded his understanding. Lord Marak pushed his way through the crowd and put his arm around the ex-spy. “Besides,” Lord Marak smiled, “I have something more important for you. You are to be the new Lord of the Situ Clan. Manage it well, Lord Rybak."
THE END
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Other titles by Richard S. Tuttle
The Khadora Collection
Forgotten Legacy
Ages ago the peaceful continent was invaded by savage conquerors. The invading army sought not only to rule and own the land, b
ut to exterminate the indigenous peoples. Survivors of the peace-loving inhabitants of the continent escaped the slaughter and reformed their meager civilizations to learn the arts of war and magic awaiting word from the gods to extract their revenge and retake their homelands.
The series starts in the country of Khadora with Young Lord of Khadora in which the son of a slave seeks to reform a government bent on feudal wars and disrespect for mages and the indigenous peoples.
Star of Sakova takes place in Omunga, a neighboring country to Khadora and features a young female mage student who is suddenly and brutally thrust into a position of leadership of a strange indigenous people.
Web of Deceit is centered in Fakara the third country of the continent and features a young man whose destiny is to create a financial empire that will aid in overthrowing the invaders.
Aakuta: the Dark Mage introduces a mysterious male mage as the series returns to Khadora. Lord Marak undertakes battling thousands of Jiadin warriors invading Khadora as members of the Lords Council try to assassinate him.
Island of Darkness returns to the Sakova as an evil mage takes over the government of Omunga declares war on the Sakovans. Complicating the war is the need to preserve the armies of both countries if the coming invasion is to be defeated. Two young women on a sea voyage happen upon the Island of Darkness where Vand is assembling his massive army to invade Omunga and Sakova. If they manage to escape the island to tell their story, their tales will chill the citizens of both countries.
Elvangar introduces the land of the elves and the chaos that reigns there. The line of Kieran which has ruled the elves for a thousand years appears to be at an end. Marak, in an attempt to enlist the aid of the elves in the coming struggle, sanctions a trip to the secret land of Elvangar. Meanwhile the drums of war continue to beat loudly on the Island of Darkness.
In Winged Warrior, the world teeters on the brink of war, but Marak's allies are not prepared to defend their homelands. The god-like Vand has inserted spies into the forces on the mainland, and each country is beset with troubles that threaten to destroy mankind.
Army of the Dead concludes the series as Vand's massive minions invade in several different locations. Worst of all for Marak and his allies, Vand has an additional army that no one has planned for; it is an army that died a thousand years ago.
The series is comprised of eight volumes alternating between the three countries with the final volumes drawing them all together.
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Young Lord of Khadora
Young Lord of Khadora features Marak, a young soldier in the service of one of the smaller clans of Khadora who is chosen as a sacrifice for the benefit of his lord. Recognizing his promotion as the sacrifice it is intended to be, Marak uses every trick available to thwart the plans of his lord and change the very fabric of society.
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Star of Sakova
Star of Sakova is the tale of Lyra, a young woman who survives a deadly attack on the magic academy run by her parents. Her flight from the army of assassins following her, forces Lyra to enter the dreaded Sakova, a land of magic and strange beasts, a land that nobody returns from.
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Web of Deceit
Web of Deceit is the story of Rejji, a young man from a small village in a barren wasteland. When his village is destroyed, Rejji heads off into the world in the company of a small, female thief, only to discover that he is being chased by bandits, slavers, and evil magicians. The future of Fakara rests on the shoulders of a man barely past his boy-years.
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Aakuta: the Dark Mage
Aakuta: the Dark Mage Lord Marak tries to gain support from the lords of Khadora as the Jiadin invasion begins. Complicating the situation is the arrival of a male mage, something unheard of in Khadora.
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Island of Darkness
Just as peace between Omunga and Sakova appears to be a certainty, an evil mage steals the body of the newly chosen Katana, leader of the Omungan people. As the new Katana plots the destruction of the Sakova, a strange mystical disease ravages the country producing widespread famine. Both countries stand poised to annihilate each other, but the Star of Sakova fears a greater threat, which is brewing unseen across the ocean. To confront that new threat, she must preserve the armies of her Omungan enemy. Against all odds, she embarks upon a path towards a peaceful solution to the war, a path that could likely imperil the very existence of her own people.
Meanwhile, two young orphans discover that they are sisters and set out from the Sakova on an ocean voyage to discovery their roots. What they discover is enough to terrorize both the Omungans and the Sakovans, if the young sisters manage to escape the Island of Darkness to tell their story.
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Elvangar
Thousands of years ago, humans attacked Elvangar, the land of the elves. The elves responded with a devastating attack, which ended with the sealing of the human city of Angragar. Sealed by the hand of Kaltara and hidden in an impenetrable jungle, Angragar has remained dormant waiting for the prophesized Astor to arrive and reopen the gates.
Now that the Time of Calling has arrived, Angragar has awakened, and the elves of Elvangar prepare for a human invasion. Caught in the middle are four elves who have escaped from the Island of Darkness. Eltor, Caldal, Mistake, and MistyTrail tread carefully in both lands as the world prepares for a war unlike any other in history.
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Winged Warrior
In ancient days, the mightiest of dragons were fearless in battle against the foes of Kaltara. Those special dragons were called Winged Warriors, and they were revered by the elves. In Winged Warrior, the Torak meets a Winged Warrior and learns that she is to become his battle steed.
The Time of Cleansing fast approaches as the Motangans plant a spy deep within the ruling circle of the Sakovans. The mage-spy Aakuta is discovered on the Island of Darkness and condemned to death, while rebellious Khadoran lords conspire to overthrow Emperor Marak. The elven nation is beset by plotting from antiwar factions, while the Jiadin of Fakara threaten to abandon their defensive positions.
The world teeters on the brink of new war, a war in which there will be no surrenders, no prisoners, and no negotiations, only total annihilation. Life itself hangs in the balance as Vand's minions prepare to launch the final invasion and sow seeds of deceit and destruction in the camps of the defenders.
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Army of the Dead
Massive armies are poised to invade the three main countries of the mainland. The Khadorans, Sakovans, and Fakarans are badly outnumbered as a thousand huge warships set sail from the Island of Darkness to exterminate all life on the mainland. Led by an ageless mage, the forces of evil appeared assured of success.
The Torak, the Star of Sakova, and the Astor rally their forces to meet the onslaught and preserve humanity, but can their outnumbered forces stave off the murderous rampage that is about to descend upon them?
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The Alcea Collection
The Alcea Collection consists of three series. The Targa Trilogy is the beginning of an epic fantasy adventure centered around a boy destined to become the ultimate warrior and a girl whose magic will shape the future.
The Alcea Collection continues with a seven volume series, the Sword of Heavens. The Sword of Heavens presents the next generation of heroes as five emerging adults are thrust into a world of darkness, treachery, and deceit. Only the efforts of these young heroes can change the destiny of the world and restore the heavens above the Darkness.
Demonstone Chronicles is the third series in the Alcea Collection. Alutar, the Great Demon, has made plans against the defeat of his Chosen One, and he rallies an entire continent to destroy Alcea.
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Targa Trilogy
/> Prepare for a journey into a world of might and magic, elves and dwarves, goblins and yaki, a realm where three human youngsters are thrust into saving their world from an evil magician bent on destruction. Discover parallel universes and the mystery of the origins of the races.
The son of a humble lumberman, an orphaned girl abandoned into the care of an old sick man, and the cunning son of a border guard are the only people to stand in the way of the destruction of all that people cherish and love. The Targa Trilogy details the trials and perils of Alexander, Jenneva, and Oscar as these special, gifted young Targans take on the diabolical Sarac and his minions.
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Origin Scroll
Origin Scroll starts the series with three 15-year-olds who are thrust onto the world stage as the only hope to stop the evil Sarac.
Alexander is burdened with saving his village from an attack of yaki, while Jenneva enters a cave that will change her life. Oscar, a boy with no future in a small border town, learns the truth meaning of persuasion.
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Dark Quest
Dark Quest, the second volume, finds our young heroes challenged by Mordac, Sarac's assistant. Mordac unveils a plan to capture the knowledge of the world in his bid to restore his master, Sarac.
His plans include pitting the nations of the world against one another to prepare for the destruction he knows Sarac will unleash.
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Young Lord of Khadora [Forgotten Legacy Book 1] Page 34